PrairieProf
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Posts posted by PrairieProf
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They eat grass (to try to make themselves vomit?) when they have upset stomachs, but they also like to graze when they feel fine, especially the new spring grass, especially where there are longer shoots. We were at the dog park this morning and Beth is very into the fresh young grass right now -- it's just gotten to the point where it's sending up taller leaves. I do try to discourage the grazing but it's never seemed to hurt her.
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I am sorry. I remember being so shocked to hear she was gone. I hope the day brings some comforting and loving memories.
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I don't know, but Sophie seems to choose the most inaccessible places - under a spiky shrub (ouch!) or in the middle of a clump of flowers for example. She takes forever to select the perfect spot and then has multiple goes at achieving her mission - I think the record is 37!
Oh yeah, Beth loves to go ON something if it's available (clumps of hostas are popular in the summer), or if she comes to a spot where the footing is different (like someone's garden, wood chips, dried leaves, etc.) I'm talking about on walks here. She's even pickier about poop spots, and drives me virtually to distraction when there's snow and ice.
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I think Undergreysspell's idea of gradual conditioning is good. Meanwhile maybe you need to think about a window A/C unit? I don't know about staghounds but greyhounds really don't do well in the heat -- Beth starts panting if the house gets above 73. Of course it may be what they're used to.
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She could certainly have Giardia. Or a host of other things, who knows what kind of bacteria. Drinking dubious lake water is very risky for causing such problems. I would strongly recommend going to the vet and getting her on metronidazole (Flagyl), the go-to antibiotic for GI stuff.
If she continues to vomit or have diarrhea, she should be fasting for a day or two until it settles down.
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I'm so sorry. I wish you the peace of knowing you are making the loving decision at the right time.
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This is correct in people - it builds up and stays in the system for a few days but it also does depend on what type of medicine you are taking (Armour which is natural for example versus a synthesized medicine). It looks like dogs are different in that it does not stay in the system as long as in people and that is why twice a day dosing is recommended - reference Dr Dodds book on canine dog issues. But, I'm sure vets differ on their opinion on thyroid and dosing ....
Right, I take Cytomel too and know it isn't the same. But we were talking about Soloxine which is levothyroxine which = Synthroid in humans. But yes of course dogs could be different. There is also a lot of official drug information for Soloxine or any drug online.
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Speaking from human thyroid meds which are also levothyroxine (what Soloxine is), A) the drug is metabolized very slowly, so the spacing really doesn't matter -- the level of thyroid hormone in the body from the drug builds over days and decreases over days if you didn't give it. Humans take it once a day.
For humans you are absolutely supposed to take it *away* from food for a reliable dose. Food interferes with the absorption. I try to take it an hour before I eat breakfast. -
No, it's not a normal reaction to Fortiflora. On the other hand, it may not be caused by it but by whatever problem is causing the D in the first place.
People act like probiotics are going to be some magic fix -- but if the problem doesn't stem from a lack of good bacteria in the system they're really not going to do anything significant.
FWIW my vet used to prescribe Fortiflora but has switched to prescribing Proviable DC and finds it a superior product.
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Absolutely do not feed her. Her system needs time to rest. Don't go crazy about not drinking for now. She won't get dehydrated in a day, and she can get fluids tomorrow at the vet at the latest
I would say emergency vet, as blood in the stools can turn into HGE (hemorraghic gastroenteritis) very quickly -- that involves blood just pouring out copiously. This is a very serious condition that needs immediate treatment. Or just watch her now and take her in immediately if anything worsens. And take her in first thing tomorrow regardless so she can gets meds and fluids.
Beth also has gastroenteritis since yesterday morning (not eating, vomited once, feels crappy, progressed to liquid diarrhea) and spent the day at the vet getting fluids. But no blood. She is now 48 hours without eating but the vet doesn't want me to try to feed her until tomorrow -- they can go longer without eating and be fine. Think she's beginning to turn the corner but she's been on meds since yesterday (metronidazole bacteria and GI inflammation, Cerenia for nausea -- I keep both of those on hand so I was able to start them right away).
Gastroenteritis of undetermined cause (some kind of bacteria in the environment presumably) is evidently more common at this time of year -- read that online today and my vet confirmed it. Interesting that both Izzy and Beth are having the problem at the exact same time in the same region.
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I too started following this thread a week or so ago and want to add how very sorry I am. You did right by Neko from the beginning to the end.
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I wouldn't feed that kind of stuff to Beth (but she has a sensitive stomach). Read the ingredients on that kind of thing, ick. Of course I don't eat junky processed food myself, either. I mean I'm sure it won't kill them, millions of dogs across America eat those treats, though if Milk Bones give Roman gas I bet he has a picky tummy.
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No issues here. It's still pretty early days after the amp and the foot may well still be sensitive -- hopefully that behavior will fade out as the healing grows more advanced. Beth was never touchy about her foot being handled but it was clearly easier for her to tweak it on occasion in a way that caused some passing discomfort in the first six months or so than it has been more recently (coming up on two years since the amp now).
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In home training exercises that don't take a lot of walking -- like teaching "touch" to an object etc.?
There are puzzle toys etc. though I could never picture my grey using one....
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I'm glad she's doing OK and showing good healing progress.
Does your vet do therapeutic laser? Beth had some (much smaller) open wounds from a dog bite this fall that were frustrating me with their slowness in healing -- I did one session of laser therapy on them and it definitely seemed to speed up their closing. I would absolutely do it again (and sooner) next time she has any significant wound or surgical site needing healing.
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Should have clarified-hills makes a low fat GI restore which is lower in fat--the canned is around 9% and I think the dry even lower.
That is true, but note that regular I/D is NOT 13.9% fat. Hill's lists the nutrient percentages of all foods on a dry-matter basis on its website, which is not the same as the as-fed basis. Regular I/D dry is 22% protein and 9% fat (I feed it to Beth so I know). You can find the as-fed percentages on the actual bags of food and cans and on some other websites that sell food (petfooddirect.com or that sort of thing).
Canned foods are also listed in dry-matter percentages on the website.
Beth doesn't have IBD -- she had a close brush with pancreatitis, and clearly is prone to GI issues -- but I/D has been a wonderful food for her. Despite the expense I've kept her on it for over two years now because she does better on it than anything else we ever tried, loves it and stays in beautiful condition.
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If you don't need a structured boot but just a simple layer of protection, I highly recommend Pawz disposable booties. Much more comfortable for the dog, too. I have used the large size over a wrapped foot and the medium size is the normal greyhound size. That is all we ever used as Beth was healing from her toe amputation. www.pawzdogboots.com
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I rather sympathize, as my girl has to do some serious walking to poop. This was quite an issue when she was recovering from a toe amputation that generated ripped stitches and deep abrasions from the wrap. And she absolutely won't do it on my property. So I definitely get the conundrum.
I would explain your problem to the vet and see what s/he says. You might just have to take her on slightly longer but very controlled walks, a block or two, say. And perhaps crate rest when she's not going out to really minimize movement the rest of the time (that's what we had to do for several weeks). Or at least take her out on the street where the "pee-mail" smells will incite her to go, vs. the boring backyard. Might prolong the healing somewhat but you do what you have to do.
My girl is also a marker, but I figure as long as she gets the first good pee out, she's not going to explode. Lucy should learn over some days to make the most of her opportunities. (And my girl held it for over 24 hours when I first brought her home years ago, so they can do that!)
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Wow I like that Pet Net Shop barrier, I've never seen that before. Looks like it would be easy to put up and remove as needed and would be less likely to injure the dog than metal bars in a collision. I wish they made a little zipper opening or something in the middle so you could open it up to reach through and pet your dog.
I guess they could still get their nose around the edges for a pet. -
I go two days back and forth between Iowa and NY twice a year or so and while I do think about safety, you really aren't at any more risk than anywhere else. Don't they say that most accidents happen within two miles of your house or something like that? I would prioritize a comfortable, low-stress environment for your hound.
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Poor brave boy. Gentle hugs to him.
My friend's 9 year old greyhound had two sarcomas removed from his outer thigh last summer and while it took a good while for the deep surgical sites to heal (mobile area, stitches ripped and it mostly had to heal by granulation) he's been fine since.
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Oh noooo, I am so sorry. How absolutely awful. And so close on the heels of the terrible attack on Chevy too! Sending very good thoughts to Leah for speedy healing. She is one of my favorites since both she and Beth are in the missing-toe club.
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Well he's going to poop a crapload (pun semi-intended) on a high-fiber food like t/d.
I think toothwise it would make more sense to get the t/d separately (not mixed with another food) and maybe at a separate time, perhaps as a bedtime snack. You wouldn't brush your teeth while eating cookies, right?
But I do think a consult about weight and feeding next time you see your vet would make sense.
Of course there are a zillion things you could add to his food for more calories and perhaps nutritional extras, but the real point would be to figure out a basic feeding regimen that works for him in terms of weight, poop, and all the other measures of health.
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I looked it up the t/d just now and it is only 254 calories a cup, which is quite on the low end for kibble (it is very high in fiber, so the lower calories makes sense). My Beth, for example is on Prescription I/D, and that is 379 calories per cup. So he may just need more of his other food or more food in general.
I am obviously not anti-Hills, but there are certainly many other and cheaper and probably more effective ways to keep his teeth clean than prescription food. Or I think some people feed a small amount of t/d as a treat without it being a major part of the diet. It just works by the kibble scrubbing their teeth as they chew.
It would make sense to consult with your vet since s/he's the one you're getting it from in the first place.
For humans you are absolutely supposed to take it *away* from food for a reliable dose. Food interferes with the absorption. I try to take it an hour before I eat breakfast.
I guess they could still get their nose around the edges for a pet.
Hello! New Owner From Titusville,fl
in Introductions & Biography
Posted
Has your adoptee been tested to make sure he's small-dog safe? Chinese Cresteds are tiny fragile little things. Will you be crating your hound while you are out until you are 100% sure he is safe with them? How much reading have you done about the breed and preparing?